Similar colleges

Colleges like Sonoran Desert Institute: 10 similar schools

The 10 colleges most similar to Sonoran Desert Institute, ranked by shared features and how close their published figures are.

Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

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Bars show each admit rate on a 0–100% scale.

The colleges most similar to Sonoran Desert Institute are Refrigeration School Inc (same Carnegie classification); Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc (same control type (private for profit)); and Intellitec College-Grand Junction (graduation rate 53%, close to 45%). Sonoran Desert Institute has an average net price of $21,738 a year; 1 of its 10 alternatives cost less, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.

The score is profile closeness out of 100; the order also counts shared features and location. How matches are scored

Sonoran Desert Institute vs. its top 10 alternatives

Acceptance rate, average net price per year after grants, six-year graduation rate, median earnings ten years after entry and profile match score for Sonoran Desert Institute and its closest alternatives.
College	State	Acceptance rate	Net price	Graduation rate	Median earnings	Match score
Sonoran Desert Institute	AZ	Not reported	$21,738	44.8%	Not reported	This college
Refrigeration School Inc	AZ	Not reported	$17,509	72.3%	$56,657	48/100
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc	AZ	Not reported	$31,382	74.6%	$62,466	45/100
Intellitec College-Grand Junction	CO	Not reported	$22,687	52.6%	$35,896	63/100
Intellitec College-Colorado Springs	CO	Not reported	$28,631	51.9%	$41,868	52/100
California Institute of Arts & Technology	CA	Not reported	$41,778	61.7%	Not reported	50/100
Universal Technical Institute-Southern California	CA	Not reported	$31,974	67.6%	$62,466	48/100
Lincoln College of Technology-Denver	CO	Not reported	$36,296	63%	$56,095	43/100
Universal Technical Institute of California Inc	CA	Not reported	$28,050	78.9%	$62,466	43/100
Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc	CA	Not reported	$31,551	72.6%	$53,540	41/100
Colorado School of Trades	CO	90.9%	$25,187	76.1%	$50,801	38/100

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants; graduation rate is within six years; earnings are ten years after entry. Match score is profile closeness out of 100. “Not reported” means the college sent no figure to the U.S. Department of Education.

Top 10 alternatives to Sonoran Desert Institute

Ranked by similarity. Each card lists what the college shares with Sonoran Desert Institute and where it differs.

Match #1

Refrigeration School Inc

Phoenix, AZ

Profile closeness48/100

Admit rate—

1,346 students
Private for-profit
City: Large

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private for profit)
Differs: Graduation rate 72%, well above 45%

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Match #2

Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc

Avondale, AZ

Profile closeness45/100

Admit rate—

1,957 students
Private for-profit
Suburb: Large

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private for profit)
Differs: Graduation rate 75%, well above 45%

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Match #3

Intellitec College-Grand Junction

Grand Junction, CO

Profile closeness63/100

Admit rate—

1,077 students
Private for-profit
City: Small

Graduation rate 53%, close to 45%
Average net price $22,687, close to $21,738
Differs: Enrollment 1,077 students, much smaller than 5,435

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Match #4

Intellitec College-Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO

Profile closeness52/100

Admit rate—

679 students
Private for-profit
City: Large

Graduation rate 52%, close to 45%
Same Carnegie classification
Differs: Enrollment 679 students, much smaller than 5,435

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Match #5

California Institute of Arts & Technology

San Diego, CA

Profile closeness50/100

Admit rate—

2,112 students
Private for-profit
City: Large

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private for profit)
Differs: Average net price $41,778, well above $21,738

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Match #6

Universal Technical Institute-Southern California

Long Beach, CA

Profile closeness48/100

Admit rate—

1,701 students
Private for-profit
City: Large

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private for profit)
Differs: Average net price $31,974, well above $21,738

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Match #7

Lincoln College of Technology-Denver

Denver, CO

Profile closeness43/100

Admit rate—

1,212 students
Private for-profit
City: Large

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private for profit)
Differs: Enrollment 1,212 students, much smaller than 5,435

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Match #8

Universal Technical Institute of California Inc

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Profile closeness43/100

Admit rate—

1,553 students
Private for-profit
Suburb: Large

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private for profit)
Differs: Graduation rate 79%, well above 45%

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Match #9

Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc

Sacramento, CA

Profile closeness41/100

Admit rate—

1,214 students
Private for-profit
City: Large

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private for profit)
Differs: Graduation rate 73%, well above 45%

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Match #10

Colorado School of Trades

Lakewood, CO

Profile closeness38/100

Admit rate91%

85 students
Private for-profit
Suburb: Large

Same Carnegie classification
Same control type (private for profit)
Differs: Enrollment 85 students, much smaller than 5,435

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How the matches differ from Sonoran Desert Institute

Graduation rates across the matches run from 52% (Intellitec College-Colorado Springs) to 79% (Universal Technical Institute of California Inc), against 45% at Sonoran Desert Institute; 10 of 10 graduate a larger share of students.
Enrollment sizes across the matches run from 85 students (Colorado School of Trades) to 2,112 students (California Institute of Arts & Technology), against 5,435 students at Sonoran Desert Institute; 0 of 10 are larger.
2 of 10 matches are in Arizona; the others are in CA, CO.

Questions about Sonoran Desert Institute alternatives

What colleges are similar to Sonoran Desert Institute?

The closest matches to Sonoran Desert Institute are Refrigeration School Inc, Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc, Intellitec College-Grand Junction, Intellitec College-Colorado Springs, and California Institute of Arts & Technology. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.

Which Sonoran Desert Institute alternatives cost less?

1 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Sonoran Desert Institute ($21,738 a year), including Refrigeration School Inc ($17,509). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.